A Shift in Perspective Part 7: Day 27, The final day. --- Dear Journal, It's been a while, but I finally got you back. Since I couldn't find you in the village I assumed the Bokoblins had burned you in the bonfire or used you for toilet paper. Thankfully they'd just thought you were junk and forgot about you. I didn't even have to trade to get you back. Getting the charcoal sticks to write this with was more difficult. Anyway, I haven't written in you for almost a month so let's get a few things cleared up. After that rainy day I had been having pretty bad luck of hunting and happened upon a Bokoblin village. I hoped to snag some meat and leave but ended up staying the night. I was told the festivities they were engaged for was the 'Mating Time' that was fast approaching and I tried to nope out of that as quick as I could. Unfortunately while I was sleeping their scouts raided my camp and took everything, including the slate which could change me back. Turned out their elder would only give it back for a horse, which proved to be nearly impossible. I ended up having to fish to earn my meals here, and I obviously resented the idea of being included in their breeding season. What had made the entire situation even more uncomfortable was one of the sows, a blue, wide-hipped female named Keki that had brazenly groped my goods within minutes of meeting me. So I was stuck trying to figure out how to juggle getting food, catching a horse with this Bokoblin body, and trying and frankly failing to avoid getting sexually assaulted by the horny blue Bokoblin. I really was having trouble with the concept of a monster grabbing my ass and eyeing me like a piece of meat. Then... I realized that I wasn't excluded from the Bokoblin's mating frenzy. I ended up bedding Keki, but stopped when I realized what I was doing. I left her, unknowingly hurting her feelings and giving her the impression that I was gay. I did not realize this until later, and honestly felt like a total heel. I made several more attempts to try and get a horse to trade for the slate before their instincts drove them all to rut like animals. All of them failed, and I was sliding further and further into barbaric, instinctual lust. The day before their 'Mating Time' I learned just how frustrating it was. I had never experienced such levels of desire. I chose to remain in the village because of how dangerous it would be to wander in my condition. If I had neared the road I might never have forgiven myself if I discovered some traveler. I'm still not sure how to feel about this, but I ended up having sex with my two male roommates, Urzog and Beld. They're friendly, and apparently a couple but seem very open with including others when it came to blowing off steam. I am confident that no one will ever read this embarrassing bit of information since I had trouble communicating the very concept of reading to the Bokoblin who had my journal. Continuing, I cannot fully explain in words just how maddening the Mating Time was. I'm pretty sure if I hadn't participating that I would have had sex with anything. I acted like a completely different person, and ended up with Keki the entire time. I ended up having sex with a Bokoblin. A few days before that I would have been revolted, but something changed in those few days. I guess, I refused to see Keki's good qualities because I was so focused on what she was, or wasn't depending on how you look at it. I kept remembering all the kroinking, ugly faces that came at me with blunted, poorly made weapons in those dungeons. Snot-covered snouts and wretched smells that'd make a vulture gag. Yet the village isn't filthy, violent, or anything like those Bokoblins I slew. These Bokoblins understand what a latrine is and how to fish. They don't seem to understand that other races have a right to their property but they aren't interested in conquest or raiding towns. They're scavengers at worst and isolationists at best. If this encampment was left alone, I'm sure they'd be quite content. And strangely so am I. I'd been wandering around Hyrule after Ganon's defeat, unsure exactly what to do with myself and accidentally changing into a Bokoblin has gone from being a curse to an enlightening experience. And if I need to state the obvious: yes. Keki is pregnant with my first child. Boko-lits, they call them. Yes. Like piglets, but 'Boko.' Her belly's only become noticeably round within the past week, but I'm still a bit shocked. I'm going to be a dad. A dad to a Bokoblin but still, a dad. Keki's very pleased with what she calls a 'pairing.' It's nothing as sacred as marriage, but by promising to be 'her boar' during our maddened copulation, I've promised to only breed with her. She's incredibly happy to have snagged what I understand as a 'Bokoblin Hero.' Apparently, during my lapse of sanity I'd grown a pair of tusks, a sign of strength and power and any Boko-lits I sire are destined for greatness... which Keki now has a monopoly on. She doesn't flaunt this fact, but she is quick to remind her fellow sows that I'm off the table, and the same message goes to me if I stare at other sows just a little too long. She seemed a bit confused when I asked for the same promise from her, saying that 'There's no boar better than my Lunk, so why would I bother with them?' By the way, that's the name they call me. I didn't think it was smart to use my own name. If they connected the dots to me being the same guy who slaughtered whole camps of them during my quest... well, they might not be so friendly. Despite her condition, Keki has proven to be more helpful than I could ever imagine. It was only a week later that she and I managed to rope a horse. The noble beasts would always bolt at the first sight of my monstrous form, but through trial and error we managed to get a sack over a mare's head so she wouldn't see us as I worked to calm her down. Old Nezdreg, the camp's elder nearly fell over with joy when we brought the horse into camp. I was happy to have the slate shoved into my arms, but I admit I was afraid they were going to harm it. Well, I learned something else that day. You see, Nezdreg had been wanting to establish a new camp in the mountains in case of danger, and that required a sizable and safe cave. However, the Moblins were the masters there. The mare was his bargaining chip. I also learned that Moblins were apparently very attracted to horses. Like, really, REALLY attracted to horses, and had the equipment to match. The less I ponder that, the better. So the camp's now moving supplies to the cave to fortify it and seal it so no other monster can claim it before we move there in the winter. Small caravans that avoid the main roads when possible. The Bokoblins avoid areas where Hylians go now. I guess I put the fear of the Goddesses in them. As for my routine now? I did promise her to stay with Keki, and I won't lie I feel responsible for her condition. I of course AM responsible but I'm not staying because of guilt. Honestly? I like her. She challenges me, and she honestly seems to enjoy my company. I've never known a woman who honestly thought I was attractive, and her aggressive reminders (like when she grabs my ass) have become endearing. And the sex we have is amazing. I didn't think I'd want to do it ever again after the Mating Time but I'll be damned if she can't entice me into it. I've come to know that since there's not a lot of entertainment in this primitive culture, recreational sex is a favorite among Bokoblins. I fish by the river with a spear in the morning hours, I sit with Keki while we eat, I help with any important tasks, and maybe have loud sex with my sow before we go to sleep in our home. That's the one major change with us. I wasn't content to live in a tent, so I tried my hand at making a stone hut. I'm no mason worker, but I managed to make a simple ring out of river rocks, filled the gaps with mud, and draped my old tent over some sticks to make a roof. Its crude, and it took several tries (and remembering that such structures require a foundation) but now I feel a bit more civilized. I even got a simple bark door and a rope for a lock. I'm considering adding a fireplace when I feel ambitious enough to remove a few stones near the base. The other Bokoblins are asking if I can make them a fancy 'stone-tent' like mine, and there's been a few trade offers to acquire it. I may end up teaching them a few things before my first child is born. Speaking of, I asked Keki just yesterday about names, but she laughed. Apparently Bokoblins name their kids much like how they normally build things. By slamming them together. In this case, her name and mine. If our kid's lucky, he or she won't be named Kunk. The slate's still counting down, it won't be long until I could use it to change back to a Hylian. --- Link put down his charcoal stick and flexed his fingers. He glanced over to the slate, which lay on a flat rock that served as a shelf. It wouldn't be much longer until he could change back. However, what would he do when he could? It was a question he'd kept to himself. Could Keki understand if he did? Would she recognize him for who he was? It would likely end everything he'd gained in this village. The friendships he'd forged, his attempts to bring some advancement to the Bokoblins, his relationship with Keki was the biggest concern of all. The thought of being without her now was painful to consider. He'd grown very attached to her, and honestly looking forward to being a parent. He didn't have to change back right away. He'd have to find the right time and place to explain everything to Keki. If he wanted to stay in this camp, he didn't want to have to keep secrets from her. Footsteps on the dirt floor of their home heralded her approach, and although Link knew she couldn't read, he closed his journal anyway. His worries were momentarily dispelled as he felt her snout trail kisses along the back of his neck. "I thought you were out hunting mushrooms." Link said with a knowing smile. Keki snorted, "I was. Now I'm here." Link looked over his shoulder, "And now that you're here what do you want to do?" Keki leaned forward, pressing her body against his and laying her head on his shoulder, "Rest in our bed, enjoy a few quiet hours before the dinner horns blow, then after our bellies are full we come back to our home and kroink like mad." "So, the same as yesterday?" Link chuckled. His sow was insatiable in that area, and he was finding her to be irresistible. Both of their ears perked up as they heard a beep. Then a blue light began to fill the room. Link turned to see it was the slate, which was showing a time of 00:00:00 in bright flashing numbers. So bright in fact, that Link didn't realize they were growing brighter and brighter until it was hard to look at the device. "Lunk, what's it doing?" Keki asked, rising to her feet in case of danger. Link was stumped, trying to think of what the slate was doing. He hadn't touched any buttons, and it had been inert for almost a month. It couldn't have been bumped or nudged. The device had been counting down until it had regained its power. That's what he believed, but Link suddenly wondered if that was right. The only thing it could have been was... That's when Link realized it wasn't a countdown timer. It was a cooldown timer. The light was blinding now, and Link had to shield is eyes. "No, not now!" Link cried, feeling his head bump against something. Even with his eyes covered, it hurt to look at anything. Everything was a blurry mess as his eyes readjusted to normal levels of illumination. The hands in front of him were milky white, and had five fingers. A quick glance up showed his head was up against the ceiling of his crude house, and down he saw the rest of him. Completely Hylian. The knot of his loincloth had surrendered from his increased size, and the sleeves he wore now dangled at his elbows. "L-lunk?" Keki said in a shuddering voice. Link looked at her. The sow was shaking in confused fear. Her mouth hung open as she gawked at the Hylian that was sitting where her mate had been. "Wha-what's... I don't..." She continued to stammer. Link sighed. He had wanted to do this at a more... natural time when he felt prepared but he guessed there wasn't any choice now. "It's still me Keki." Link said, "Calm down." "H-how am I supposed to calm down?! You're..." Keki gestured up and down with her hands at his everything. "I... I'll explain, if you can sit down, please." Link then went into his story from the beginning. How he had not been born a Bokoblin but a Hylian. He told her of his adventure, sticking to the dungeons he had charged into and the guardians he had slain, only veering off into the other things that happened when Keki asked a question. She said little, sometimes asking a question or needing Link to elaborate but as Link continued he saw her growing more and more distant and forlorn. "And... that leads me to when I walked into the village." Link said, "I... I'm sorry I kept this from you." Keki stared at the ground like a statue. Link leaned forward, "Keki, please say something." "Was... all that we shared real?" Keki asked, her voice a trembling whisper. Link was taken aback by the question. "I... suddenly it makes sense why you were acting like you did." Keki pulled back from Link, "I thought you were a wild one, but you're even more different than I thought. That's why you left me the first time we mated." "I... wasn't ready to accept it." Link explained, "To accept us." "But... you don't have to be a Bokoblin anymore. You're not stuck as one." Keki rose up and sat on their bed, her back to him, "You should go back to that princess. It's where you belong." "Keki..." Link pleaded. She didn't answer. Link looked at the slate and sighed. He knew what he had to do. What needed to be done. He took the slate and tapped around until he found the Bokoblin rune again. With one press of a button the light filled the house again. Even with his sight blurred, Link was able to navigate his way to the bed. His head no longer brushed the ceiling, and he knew why. He held his hands out until he felt the touch of Keki's back, and felt her jump at his touch. He could see her whirl around, a fuzzy, indistinct shape but she knew she was surprised. "I told you you didn't have to stay." Keki said firmly. "Maybe I want to." Link said. Her cute face finally came back into view, and Link smiled as he lifted the slate up and put it around her neck. "You'll get to decide just how long I stay like this." He said, taking quick note of the ticking clock on the slate's face, "It'll change me back eventually, but a single button will turn me back into a Bokoblin." Keki looked into his eyes, clearly stunned by Link's actions. "But if you don't want me to stay, I can leave and wait until the timer runs out." Link put on a smile, but inside he could feel his heart pounding with uncertainty. Keki looked down at the slate and watched the numbers tick by. She barely understood what they were, and let the device rest against her breasts. When she met Link's eyes again, tears were rolling down her cheeks. "Then..." She paused to wipe her eye with the back of her hand, "you better get used to having such a handsome face. You're gonna have it for a long, long time." Her answer seemed to rob Link of his strength as he slumped down on his knees. He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding as Keki tackled him to the ground, engaging him in a forceful kiss. Link didn't resist, he wrapped his arms around his sow and kissed her back. The two remained like that until the horn for dinner blew. "That just leaves one thing," Keki said, "Do I still call you Lunk, or Link?" Link smiled, "Why confuse everyone? Just call me Lunk." --- "You can't be seriously happy with this." Farore, the Goddess of Courage and Din, the Goddess of Power looked over at their sister Nayru. The three goddesses were centered around a pool where they could watch the events below in Hyrule, and had witnessed everything that had happened with the Hero of Hyrule since Ganon's defeat. "And what exactly is wrong here?" Farore asked, "My champion's getting a happy ending to his story." "You know what I mean!" Nayru pouted, "He's going to stay with that pig-creature for the rest of his days. That's no fate for a hero!" Din shrugged her shoulders from where she lay next to the pool. "I think its hot." Nayru fumed, "Sister, that... is just disgusting!" Din rolled her eyes, "You're just unhappy because Link's not pining for your champion this time around." "That's not the case at all!" Nayru yelled. "Seems to me it is. Poor kid always ends up nailing some woman who'll have him while carrying a torch for Zelda." Din tapped her chin, "Has he EVER actually gotten her in all of these many reincarnations?" Farore grimaced, "I think your champion's conquered Hyrule more often than that's happened." "I think you're right." Din admitted. "Sisters, please don't let the story end here." Nayru whined. "Let him have this happy, quiet life. Next time he can go back to fawning over Zelda." Farore glanced at Din with a mischievous look, "Then again next time we'll conspire to have Link settle down with a nice Zora girl. That Ruto a few lives back nearly had Link." Rather than continue taking her sister's abuse, Nayru stomped off into the heavenly realm to sulk. The other two goddesses shared a laugh and touched the pool, accelerating time to see how things looked one year later... --- The great bonfire rose as a line of Bokoblins danced around it, feeling the lick of the flames as drums beat loudly. The Mating Time was drawing near again and the feast was set. Link and Keki sat together, too full to join in the dance for now. Instead, they were sitting and enjoying the pleasant atmosphere. Link himself was pleased with what he saw. The village had progressed to several stone houses that had withstood strong storms. In time the tents and teepees could be phased out in favor of these. The tribe had grown in the year, with he and Keki being no exception. A smile washed over Link's snout as he stared down at the sleeping purple Boko-lit laying in the grass between them. His son, Luki was proving to be quite smart by learning a few letters of the Hylian alphabet. It proved there was some hope for civilization to touch the Bokoblins after all. Keki leaned in to place a hand on Link's shoulder, which Link returned. It had been a nice year. The peace of this valley was more than he'd hoped it would be. He knew he made the right choice to stay. He didn't even mind that Keki's hand had slipped down and was now groping his ass. It just meant he was right where he belonged. --- GAME OVER You fell in love with the pig monster. Continue? > Save and Quit?